Block heater plug

[FD5]

The plug on my block heater decided it would drag on the ground for a day or so before I would notice it. So now I have a wire with no plug. Can I buy a male plug from the hardware store and install it or do I have to replace the whole heater assembly? If I can replace the end, does it make a difference about the wiring? A male plug has a hot, neutral, and ground and the block heater has 3 wires but I don't know which is hot, neutral or ground. I need some input.

THANKS,

John

 

[Midnite]

It's just a standard 3 prong plug, so a plug from the hardware store will work just fine. When you cut the plug off the cord, see if the individual wires inside the cord are colored. If they're standard colors, then black will be hot, white will be neutral, and ground should be green or possibly some other color (not black, white or red).



Mike

 

[ETOBICOKE]

Plug Replacement

As FD5 stated you can replace the plug with an ordinary three prong plug. However only one of the wires is color coded. On the flat type cable used in this aplication, use a sharp knife to just knick the cable lengthwise up the center on one side about an inch. This should allow the green colored ground wire to be exposed, pull this out and cut the other side, now you have all three condutors. The outer two are the power wires,if your fussy, the one with the bead on it is the neutral, but it realy doesn't matter which one is hot or neutral for this application.

Neil

 

[FD5]

Thanks, just the info I needed. TDR is a great web-site!!!